Here's a fun activity organized by my friend Valerie Sing Turner.
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On Sunday, January 9,
many of Vancouver’s finest actors, directors, writers and poets are
starting the new year with a resolution of compassion: they are
donating their time and talents to read from the prodigious body of
work of Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats in a benefit for the Actors’ Fund of Canada.
For 12 straight hours, 10:00am to 10:00pm, the public has the
opportunity to hear some of the most famous (and not-so-famous) words
of the man many consider to be the greatest 20th century poet to write in the English language. Chapters Books has generously provided space for the event, and all proceeds raised – through donations and the raffling off of Yeats’ Complete Poems (donated by Chapters and signed by all the readers) – will go to the Actors’ Fund. There is no admission charge.
Featuring such local luminaries as Dean Paul Gibson (soon to appear in Humble Boy at the Playhouse); John Burns (book editor, Georgia Straight); Kim Collier and Kevin Kerr (Electric Company); Johnna Wright (Solo Collectives), David Adams, Raugi Yu and Kathleen Duborg (appearing soon at The Firehall in Einstein’s Gift); Donna Wong-Juliani (Bardathon, Savage God); Richard Wolfe (Western Theatre Conspiracy); Anna Hagan (Western Gold); Patrick Gallagher and Fred Keating (Da Vinci’s Inquest); David C. Jones and Brad MacNeil (The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr at the Arts Club); and the entire cast of Beggars at the Waters of Immortality, which was written by Yeats and is opening January 14 at Pacific Theatre (Donnard MacKenzie, Bill Moysey, Kyle Rideout, Varya Rubin, Valerie Sing Turner and director Anthony F. Ingram),
the event is also an opportunity for Vancouver audiences to get to know
more of this city’s vibrant but often overlooked artistic community.
Inspired by Felix Culpa’s 24-hour marathon reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, the Dumb Prophet Equity Co-op, producers of Beggars at the Waters of Immortality,
decided to plan an event that would benefit not only the Actors’ Fund,
but also raise awareness of the Vancouver theatre community, local
actors and current or upcoming shows in Vancouver, as well as foster a
community relationship amongst Vancouver’s writers and performing
artists. To raise funds, Chapters Books has donated a volume of Yeats’
poetry, which, after being signed by each artist who reads, will be
raffled off at the end of the marathon.
The Actors' Fund of Canada
promotes artistic excellence for performers, creators, technicians and
other members of creative and production teams in all entertainment
industry sectors. The Fund carries out this mission by providing
encouragement and short-term financial aid to help entertainment
industry workers maintain their health, housing and ability to work
after an illness, injury or sudden unemployment. The Fund has helped
more than 10,000 people working in film & television, theatre,
music and dance since its creation almost 50 years ago and has
delivered more than $2.5 million in financial aid within the past 10
years.
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Dumb Prophet Equity Co-op presents
BEGGARS AT THE WATERS OF IMMORTALITY
by Irish poet/playwright William Butler Yeats
January 14 – 29 at Pacific Theatre
Featuring Donnard MacKenzie, Bill Moysey, Kyle Rideout, Varya Rubin & Valerie Sing Turner
Directed by Anthony F. Ingram
Tickets/info: 604-731-5518